WASHINGTON ( April 23, 2009) - Howard University excelled at the 2009 Ford HBCU Classic, capturing first runner up and second place positions during the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education NAFEO National Conference in Atlanta. The teams won a total of $50, 000 in prizes and scholarships for Howard.

Lawrence Ball, junior supply chain major, won first runner up with his ‘AutoCard’ business plan and was awarded $30,000, $10,000 of which goes to the University’s scholarship fund. Jomari Peterson, a 2009 candidate for a Masters in Business Administration, won second place with his “Hajj Media” project.

Jomari Peterson, an MBA candidate poses with his second place prize of $20,000.

Of the 30 business plans submitted from Historical Black Colleges and Universities, the finalists were three Howard University teams, Lincoln University and Florida A&M University. FAMU won the $35,000 Grand Prize, $15,000 is earmarked for the school’s scholarship fund.

Ionnie McNeill, junior accounting major and Anesu Nyamuda, junior finance major were also finalists with their proposal, “Baby Billionaire.”

About the Competition

HBCU Business Classic is a business plan competition for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) launched by Ford in 2004. An independent panel of judges, made up of influential entrepreneurs from the African American business community will pick the winners at the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) National Conference in Atlanta.